The Freeing Beauty Of Forgiveness

Matthew 18:35

This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you
unless you forgive your brother from your heart.

As Christians, we are called to forgive those who have wronged us. But “Why?”

Through the process of forgiveness, we realize we are not as different from the wrongdoer as we would like to think. And we end up linked on the same side.

God had linked Himself with us humans in the incarnation. He had to come to terms with us He desperately wanted to love. On earth, living among us, he learned what it was like to be human, yet without sin. But He put Himself on our side. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us.

Forgiveness is a key component of the victorious overcomer.

This is the way of the cross to becoming “more than conquerors.”

Forgiveness is a must for us as followers of Jesus.

Thank you, Lord,
for the freeing beauty of forgiveness.

Training in Righteousness

1 Corinthians 9:25

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.
They do it to get a crown that will not last;
but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

To maintain biblical integrity, we must be trained in righteousness.

We must be disciplined through practice to be obedient to God.

We must be constantly trained to withstand the schemes of the devil.

Discipleship is often bypassed in modern day because of the pressures of time, need and a low value placed upon the office to be filled.

But this was not the case with Jesus in His selection and training of His disciples.

After calling them to be with Him, he challenged them to commit themselves to following after Him — to be “fishers of men.”

Jesus then began to train them to become His kind of “fishers of men.”

Let us be trained disciples of Jesus Christ.
Let us submit to His guidance and discipline.

Lord, help me to realize and accept
Your training process as I follow You today.

Living By Example

Deuteronomy 6:6-7

These commandments that I give you today
are to be on your hearts.
Impress them on your children.
Talk about them when you sit at home
and when you walk along the road,
when you lie down and when you get up.

Christian life does not just depend on teachings, circumstances or comfort.

In many countries, there are severe restrictions and obstacles facing parents in instructing their children in the ways of the Lord.

Yet, it seems that Christian families in restricted areas are more godly and committed to the Lord than their counterparts in the west, where opportunities abound and Christians live in abundance.

The lessons we learn from persecuted churches are of far more value than seminars or devotionals can ever be—the lessons of true discipleship and wholesome living. Lessons that are neither theology nor speculation but teachings of life, reality and practice.

Let us take seriously the challenge of teaching, training and disciplining our children or young people with whom we have close relationship.

Oh God, help me to live a life of self-sacrifice
so young people will see You and want to follow You.